Can Rosacea Go Into Remission?

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This subject is an interesting one since this gives rosaceans hope if rosacea goes into remission. Does it?

According to Dr. Tony Chu, "Eventually the problem will go away..." [1]

Remission - What Does it Mean?
Also, it is important to note that the word remission means different things to different people so it really depends on the context how the word is used. For example, a couple of articles seem to reflect this hope of rosacea going into remission:

Based upon the above articles, using the term 'remission' in rosacea is quite broad. The first article says that "In a majority of subjects studied, continued treatment with metronidazole gel alone maintains remission of moderate to severe rosacea induced by treatment with oral tetracycline and topical metronidazole gel." The remission is with 'moderate to severe rosacea' which qualifies the remission. The second article has no abstract available but also uses the term remission. The third article 'extends' remission while the fourth article remission is 'induced.'

To show you how 'remission' means different things to different people, read the first thread started by Judworth on June 11, 2010. In this thread there are several links to remission topics that show you how varied the term is used amongst professionals and with rosacea sufferers.

Partial Remission
Apparently remission has the meaning of "a temporary or permanent decrease or subsidence of manifestations of a disease" according to this dictionary.

There is a discussion of 'partial remission' which simply means your rosacea signs/symptoms have gone away or reduced to very little but you will continue controlling your rosacea with treatment. [2]

Rosacea may completely clear up for a time but then return. "Although the condition may improve (go into remission) for a while without treatment, it is often followed by a worsening of symptoms (redness, pimples, red lines or nasal bumps) that progresses over time." Rosacea, The Dermatology Clinic of Indiana

Complete Remission
Complete remission means no signs/symptoms of rosacea without treatment for five years.

Remission involves no symptoms or signs of a disease for at least five years (the cancer five year no evidence of disease [NED] example)

Anecdotal Reports of Remission

Here are a few anecdotal reports that rosacea does indeed go into remission. One problem with these reports is there is no follow up on whether these rosacea sufferers remain in remission or for how long they remain in remission. All we have is what is collected below:

"Once the disease is in remission, many people can stay symptom-free by continuing to apply the topical medication faithfully. In fact, one six-month study found that 77 percent of rosacea patients who continued long-term topical therapy stayed in remission. About 42 percent of those who didn't follow the treatment plan had a relapse of symptoms." Can Rosacea Go into Remission?, Healthguides, Healthgrades

"Lifelong treatment is often necessary, although some cases resolve after a while and go into a permanent remission." Adult and Pediatric Dermatology

"Medical opinion does not deny that Rosacea can and does go into remission." Your Journey To Rosacea Remission, Rosacea Nutritional Advice, Pulse Light Clinic